10 years with my baby

10 years ago, my Shiba Inu was born and my life was forever changed.  I understand that there are many potential life milestones in a person's life - and Mochi is one of them for me.  

Here are 10 lessons I've learned from Mochi, in honor of her 10th birthday today:

1. If you can't control it, let it go.  Did you know the Shiba Inu is one crazy shedder...  SO MUCH FUR.
2. Respect is earned, not taken.  She does what she wants for the most part - but with a Shiba, there's a certain air of mutual respect in the relationship.
3. Life's number 1 priority (according to Mochi) is love.  Her love language is quality time with you (play) - everything, even food and treats comes after that.
4. Shit happens, and so does life - keep moving forward.  I had mono for several months and it didn't matter, Mochi needed to be walked 3 times a day.  I have to flu, doesn't matter, she still needs to be walked.  Accidents happen, doesn't matter - clean it up and move on forward. Which leads to...
5. Routines are good.  Yes, too much can be suffocating (for me).  A little regularity though gives you a framework to dance your life around and through and beyond - brushing/flossing teeth, breakfast, lunch, ... rituals with your loved ones.
6. Take a moment to smell the world around you.  Every day, she explores a curiosity - whether it be on a walk and seeing something in the grass, or looking out the window.  
7. Don't drop the ball, even if you get distracted.  She'll be looking for her toy monkey, and sometimes I'll be able to distract her with hugs or a treat - but she always gets back to what she was doing before.  
8. Forgive those you love, quickly.  Sometimes we're late for dinner/getting up in the morning for a walk.  Sometimes we ignore her.  She's not allowed to sleep on the bed.  She forgives quickly and adores unconditionally.  That's love. That should be what family is about, too (even if it's hard).
9. Emotionally charged tones are not helpful.  The thing about living with Mochi is that she does not like raised voices of any kind - and so, she's trained us to talk in gentle high voices.  Imagine trying to have an angry argument with your spouse using your baby-talk voice.  Yea, hard to do.  Tone and emotion are powerful - it's good to be aware of that.
10. Be silly, wiggle your butt, express yourself.  Mochi is a joy in how she expresses her true emotion, always.  The best is when she is wiggling her butt and galloping with happiness.  Everything dark in the world just melts away in her sunshine. It shows that happiness and silliness is contagious - bring others up every day with a smile or a silly dance.